Meet The Ninja Cabbies In Japan — They Offer Thrilling Airport Drops For An Additional Fee
Trending News: Legendary Japanese 'ninja' drivers don costumes and engage in role-playing, including staged sniper attacks and traditional ninja attire. The service is popular for airport shuttles.
Trending News: Japan’s legendary ninjas, active from the 15th to 19th centuries as covert agents and iconic symbols of Japanese culture, can be seen in Japan in a different role now — as cab drivers trained to offer thrilling, ninja-style drop-offs. For an additional 5,000 yen (less than Rs 3,000), passengers can experience a dramatic journey with their driver doubling as a bodyguard or ninja, media reports said.
These drivers don black suits and sunglasses, reminiscent of Hollywood bodyguards, maintaining a serious demeanour as they role-play protectors. They communicate with a fictional "security headquarters" through in-car wireless devices, updating on the route for an immersive experience. Upon arrival, the “bodyguard” might wield a water gun and a mock bulletproof briefcase, shielding passengers in a staged sniper attack scenario.
Some drivers take it further, donning ninja attire complete with shurikens and concealed daggers, adopting old-fashioned language with phrases like “de gozaru” to channel humility — a style often associated with ninjas. Quoting a representative from Sanwa Koutsu, a Japanese taxi company offering the service, a report in the South China Morning Post said these “ninja” drivers are especially popular for airport shuttles, where they aim to enchant tourists with an unexpected welcome.
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Not Just Airport Drops
Japan's IT Media reports that this unique service, targeting tourists keen on Japanese traditions, includes photo-ops with the drivers. For a spookier option, riders can opt for the Sadako Taxi by Sride, featuring a rear-window projection of Sadako, the haunting figure from the Japanese horror film Ring (1998).
Launched for Halloween 2022 with a fleet of 50 cars, these themed taxis reenact scenes from the film, complete with Sadako’s eerie emergence.
For passengers seeking silence, Sanwa Koutsu’s Kuroko taxi offers a different experience. Named after the traditional Kabuki stagehands who blend invisibly into the background, these drivers communicate only through written notes, creating a quiet journey at an extra cost of 5,500 yen ($37).
According to a Japan Today report, Sanwa Koutsu introduced the ninja-driver service way back in 2018. These uniquely themed rides, however, have captivated social media currently, with users commenting on the cultural depth added to an everyday taxi ride, the SCMP report said.
Earlier, a security firm in the Japanese city of Koka had hit the headlines for deploying guards dressed as the ninja warriors. Koka is known as the birthplace of one of the prominent ninja schools.
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